Spring on the River

The colors of spring are a most welcome sight after a long winter.

And this year was no exception.

The river was running a little high.

The trees were starting to bud.

The warm day had a slight breeze that kept the annoying black flies away.

It was such a treat to take a stroll through the field that led to the river.

The bees were happily buzzing from one dandelion to the next - the first food flower of the season for them.

Little May flowers and sweet violets grew in patches in the shorter grasses.

The maples were sending out their seeds as the birds called their spring songs from up in the branches.

Mother Nature sure knows how to bring joy to the soul.

Each season has its own special gifts, and this day was one of Spring's finest.

 

Ice Art

 

The rain was coming down and freezing upon contact one February afternoon.

When it finally stopped, I was anxious to get outside, but being in the middle of something, my walk was delayed.

The temps were quickly rising, and I could see the ice falling from the tree branches as I watched from the window.

I was going to miss my ice photos opportunity - one is lucky to get these perfect conditions once a season when it all comes together just right.

By the time I made it outside, there wasn't much ice left on the bushes, berries, branches, or pines.

A few mediocre photos made it onto my camera, and I was getting ready to retrace my path back into the house.

Then I saw it out of the corner of my eye.  That perfectly shaped ice leaf - all alone hanging from a branch.

It had separated from the leaf on which it had been formed, and it was just there - in the empty space between the branches.

I snapped a few photos of this little beauty before it joined all the other ice creations that had succumbed to the warming temps.

I had been fretting not ten minutes before about being too late in getting outside.  

Had I been earlier, this piece of ice art wouldn't have been finished and I would never have seen it.

And just a minute later, I would have missed it as well.

Timing was perfect for this shot, and I was most lucky. 

Things do have a way of working out if we just let them.

 

Winter Color

Just after a fresh snowfall, when everything is still covered, black and white are the predominate colors in the winter.

The red of the cardinal birds stands out beautifully in the trees.

The blue of the sky beyond those trees is just as vivid as the red birds.

But it's pretty hard to find other colors in a winter landscape after Mother Nature lays down a new snow layer.

That was the case today on my afternoon walk - no cardinals or blue sky to be found.

Just a lot of black and white with varying shades of gray in between.

There was one stray flash of color though that caught my eye as I passed by.

The white of the snow against the lime green of an overturned pail really stood out.

It beckoned me to take a closer look.

My phone was small enough to fit between the thorny branches and get close enough to capture the shot.

A winter abstract, with a splash of color - makes for an interesting composition.

 

Winter in Rye Harbor

This photo was taken about four years ago on a winter trip to the ocean at Rye Harbor.

Part of the State Park system in NH, we have visited here at least a couple times a year for as long as I can remember.

This past year we were never able to make the trip and the ocean was surely missed by us both.

No matter what time of the year, there is nothing like smelling the salty fresh air and seeing the everchanging beauty of the water and waves as they rush along the shore.

The sea gulls, ducks, and sand pipers that are numerous in the summer are no where to be found in the winter.

But if one is really lucky, there are a couple of Snowy Owls that have been known to visit the area.

To them, this is their "south" as they nest and breed in northern Canada each spring and summer.

I have never been able to get a decent photo of one of these beautiful owls, but I was lucky enough one winter to see one.

He was easy to find though - the group of tripods and photographers were a dead give away that something interesting was going on down by the shore.

They were respectful and kept their distance as not to scare him away so we could all enjoy his winter visit.

 

 

Frosty Mullein

Mullein leaves covered in frost on a cold New Years Day

Snow is expected tonight so tomorrow will find these fuzzy leaves covered once again.

Mullein happily grows in poor sandy soil and can often be found alongside the road in the summer.

This was a first year plant as there were no dried flowering stalks left over from the past year.

It is also very small as these plants and leaves can be quite large  - I've seen them taller than me.

Valued for it's respiratory health properties, it can be harvested and dried when it is in season so it can be used when it is needed year round.

The leaves are covered in fine hairs which can be an irritant to the throat if they are used in a tea, so it needs to be strained well before drinking.

Viewed as a common weed by many, it is a gift from Mother Nature to those who recognize its worth.

 

 

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Frozen Lake

We spend a lot of time during the summer at the lake.

A daily swim is not unheard of for us two old timers.

Our winter visits to the lake are usually short and we only go a couple of times during that season.

On a recent visit, we were surprised to see that the usually snow covered lake was missing it's snow.

It was solid ice and was just beautiful.

And so smooth too.

In all the years we have been at this lake, I have never seen it in this condition.

It was a treat, and as it was a sunny day - it just added to the enjoyment.

I didn't have my dslr with me, but my phone sure worked overtime that afternoon.

Winter Solstice

Winter began for us here in New England long before the Winter Solstice date on the calendar.

Tomorrow we begin our journey to Spring.

It will be cold and probably long.

But each day we gain a bit more light.

A good thought to get us through the snowy freezing months ahead.

The older we get the more daunting these months seem.

But the beauty and healthfulness that comes with it keeps us here.

A happy and healthy holiday season is wished for all!

A Different Perspective

I can remember my first photo assignment when I was in my photography class many years ago.

We were given a roll of film with 36 exposures on it, and sent out in front of the school, each with a different subject.

Mine was a tree.

It was winter, so it was bare.

No leaves or buds.

It was an overcast day, so the light was really drabby, and with the snow all around, everything looked black and white.

I had no idea how I was going to get 36 different photos of this tree.

Of course, that was the whole object of the assignment - to open the mind and eyes to more than the obvious.

Move in, back up, go under, look down, try different angles, don't forget the textures, check out the lines, patterns, shadows, and highlights, and most importantly, take a different perspective.

It's a little harder these days to get the low shots - the knees and back don't contort like they used to.

But it still is a lot of fun to try to get the different angles and perspectives of a subject.

The First Chick

It happened a little over four weeks ago.

After sitting on her clutch of six eggs for three weeks, the first little peep hatched.

Mama was very protective yet proud to show us her baby chick.

Over the next couple of days two more little ones joined the first.

We candled the other three eggs, and since they didn't have any chicks, we removed them from the nest box.

Watching these little chicks grow has been a great experience.

And watching Mama teach them has brought many smiles.

To see these small chicks mimicking the larger ones is too cute - especially the dust bathes.

More pics to come, for sure!

Brooding Hens

Along with the flowers and the green grass of spring, all the little animal babies are beginning to arrive.

The goats were the first to bring new life to the farm, then came the brooding hens.

Now, these ladies are not to be messed with.

They are very serious about sitting on their eggs, and they will put up with no nonsense.

Especially from the humans around them.

No sweet talking them for them and forget about touching them.

The raptors from Jurassic Park are reincarnated in these hens.

Noise included.

All the feathers on the head stand on end - that's the first warning to come no closer.

The raptor noise starts, deep in the throat, if you pay no mind to that first warning.

Now, if you have a fairly pleasant hen normally, she will not attack with a peck.

She'll just keep up with the feathers and grumbling.

But a more aggressive one has no problem delivering a few pecks to the hand.

These mama hens pluck their belly feathers, deny themselves sun light and dirt baths, and stay in the coop to keep their clutches safe and warm.

They eat very little so they don't have to leave their nests.

This goes on for 21 days.

When the chicks arrive, they are a whole different hen.

And they are a joy to watch with their little followers scampering around the yard!

Baby Goats

The little farm of my daughter's is growing.

Chickens and rabbits and goats have been added over the past year, and now that spring has arrived, the babies are coming too.

The hens are brooding on their eggs.

The rabbits are still separated at this time.

But the goats have been the center of attention for the last few weeks.

There has been a set of twin girls and two single births that were each male.

Two of the mamas were first timers - as was my daughter to all of this.

She was nervous about it - but those mama goats handled it all themselves without any problems.

The little baby goats are so cute and full of life as they hop around and play.

There are two more ladies who will be delivering their babies next month.

Her little herd is increasing at just the right pace for her to handle.

The chickens are next to have their babies.

And those little peeps will be just as cute as those baby goats!

Iced Cosmos Bloom

The snow came before the frost did earlier this season.

The delicate Cosmos blooms do not survive the frost.

But a bit of wet snow didn't seem to hurt them.

Bending under the weight of what is left of the ice crystals, the bloom popped back up once it all fell off.

A rare, beautiful sight, as the frost usually takes these flowers before the snow ever falls upon them.

Through the Dry Grasses

All of the wildflowers and grasses along the ocean's edge have prepared for the winter ahead.

A few sprigs of green grass remain there as well as in our yard.

They even withstood the heavy frost that we had a couple of nights ago.

The ocean is beautiful no matter what time of the year.

Each season has it specialties, and as much as the cold seems to get to us each year, we wouldn't want to be any other place.

Leaves Underwater

The colors weren't as vibrant this year as in years past.

And the leaves are pretty much all down now - it seems a bit early for that too.

Caught some colorful ones sitting on the bottom of the lake about a foot down under the water.

The polarizer on the lens cut through the reflections to capture them below the surface.

That  is my favorite filter - I have one for each lens.

As you turn it you can see the effects it has on your subject.

And if you don't want to use it, then there is a position for that too.

It does have a bit of an effect on the exposure though.

But with today's digital software that is something that is easily fixed during the post processing.

Glowing Leaves

The sun was reflecting off the lake water just right.

It seemed to set the red maple leaves all aglow.

We've walked by this tree many times, but those leaves never looked like this.

That's one of the joy's of photography.

Seeing that special light when it appears is a gift - and it's even better when my camera is with me.

Everyday sights made beautiful at just the right moment.

Life is good!

Website Finished

It has been about month since I started to redesign the website that hosts my images for sale.

I have been picking at it, changing little things here and there - both on the website and the blog.

I still have a couple of small cosmetic issues that I need to work out with the website, but overall I am pleased with the results.

The slideshow was pretty easy to set up once I figured out how to do it.

Uploading new images could be made easier, but perhaps that is something that will be worked on by the host as time goes on.

I like the clean, new design, and the gray color is different for a change.

I fixed the blocky look on the blog, and streaming a slide show on the side bar worked nicely too.

Check it out if you get a chance - I would love to hear what you think!

ABC Wednesday - O is for Orchard

One of my favorite places to visit in the autumn is the apple orchard.

One is completely surrounded by the aroma of fresh apples.

The tree branches are heavy with them and they all are very tempting to pick.

Each one perfectly grown and they do taste the best when just picked from the tree.

The orchard we visit is on top of a hill that has beautiful views of the distant mountains - they even have a map that names each of the peaks for those curious visitors.

I have never been in the springtime, but that orchard must be something to see with all those apple blossoms on the trees!







This is the twelfth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details. 

ABC Wednesday - M is for Marigold

Marigolds are always a bright spot of color in the garden and I like to include them each year in mine.

I have never purchased them as plants because they are so easy to grow from seeds.

And the seeds are much cheaper than the plant flats.

They have a slight smell to them, but nothing as grand as the roses or lilies.

It isn't Marigold season here yet, but I do have my seeds already and they will go in the ground at the beginning of next month.

Spring is slowly making it's way to New England this year, and it's arrival is most welcome!





This is the twelfth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details. 

ABC Wednesday - L is for Ladyslipper

We still have quite a covering of snow in our area, but in another month and a half or so, these little beauties will be making their appearance.

I always look forward to finding them as we walk along our road.

Each year there are less and less, though, as they are a very delicate bloom that only grows in specific conditions which are fast disappearing.

There is one particular spot that they grow without anybody bothering them, and I take in their beauty as we drive by along the highway.

Stopping to admire them is difficult in this spot and I wouldn't want to draw too much attention to them from the passers-by.

I have loved them ever since I was a little girl, and they always bring such joy each spring, these pretty little Pink Ladyslipper Wildflowers.





This is the twelfth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details. 

ABC Wednesday - G is for Green

This was one of the prettiest dragonflies that I have seen.

When I first saw it, it was on a leaf in the garden, and I almost missed him because he matched that leaf so well.

So, I followed him around until he landed on something that he stood out against.

It took a while, and I guess he was tired, because he stayed quite a while on these rocks.

He didn't fly away as I closed in on him.

This was the closest I could get with the lens I had on the camera - not my macro one which would have done a great job with his details.

He was beautiful, and I have yet to see another one like him - perhaps this summer I might get a chance.

My eyes will be peeled.





This is the twelfth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.